Breeding Bird Survey of the Peak District Moorlands 2004 Moors for the Future Report No 1 Geoff Carr & Peter Middleton Moors for the Future is supported by the National Heritage Lottery Fund The Partners are: English Nature, National Trust, Peak District National Park Authority, United Utilities, Severn Trent Water, Yorkshire Water, Sheffield City Council, Peak Park Moorland Owners and Tenants Association, defra, Country Land and Business Association, National Farmers Union Project Research Manager: Aletta Bonn Moors for the Future Castleton Visitor Centre Buxton Road Castleton Derbyshire S33 8WP Tel/Fax: 01433 621656 email: [email protected] website: www.moorsforthefuture.org.uk 2004 Peak District Moorland Breeding Bird Survey 1 CONTENTS page SUMMARY 5 1. INTRODUCTION 6 2. THE STUDY SITE 7 3. THE PHYSICAL BACKGROUND 9 4. VEGETATION AND BIRD ASSOCIATIONS 10 5. METHODOLOGY 12 5.1 Bird survey census 12 5.2 Accuracy of survey methods 14 5.3 Accuracy of GIS records 15 5.4 Data Storage 15 6. RESULTS 17 6.1. Introduction 17 6.2 Species Accounts 18 6.3 Summary Statistics 41 7. DISCUSSION 44 7.1 National and international importance of breeding populations 44 in the Peak District 7.2 Long-term change in distribution and abundance of selected species 44 8. CONCLUSIONS 50 9. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 50 10. REFERENCES 51 MAPS APPENDIX 2 2004 Peak District Moorland Breeding Bird Survey LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Distribution of Red Grouse across surveyed habitats Figure 2: Distribution of Golden Plover across surveyed habitats Figure 3: Distribution of Lapwing across surveyed habitats Figure 4: Distribution of Dunlin across surveyed habitats Figure 5: Distribution of Curlew across surveyed habitats Figure 6: Distribution of Skylark across surveyed habitats Figure 7: Distribution of Meadow Pipit across surveyed habitats LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Moorland bird species recorded during this survey Table 2: Number of recorded pairs and average density of species in occupied squares for 2004 in the whole study area Table 3: Comparison of 1990 and 2004 data based on 489 km² squares surveyed in both periods Table 4: Ten important selected moorland species in relation to national totals LIST OF MAPS Map 1: Survey Areas (2004, 1990) Map 2a-c: 2004 Distribution of breeding pairs of Canada Goose, Teal and Mallard Map 3a,b: 2004 Distribution of raptors and owls (I): Peregrine, Short-eared Owl, Merlin, Kestrel, Hen Harrier, Buzzard Map 4a-c: 2004 Distribution Red Grouse Map 5a-c: 2004 Distribution of breeding pairs of Dunlin and Golden Plover Map 5d: 2004 Distribution of breeding pairs of Dunlin and Golden Plover (ESA habitat map) Map 6a-c: 2004 Distribution of breeding pairs of Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Redshank and Woodcock Map 7a-c: 2004 Distribution of breeding pairs of Curlew, Lapwing and Snipe Map 7d: 2004 Distribution of breeding pairs of Curlew, Lapwing and Snipe (ESA habitat map) Map 8a-c: 2004 Distribution of Skylark Map 9a-c: 2004 Distribution of Meadow Pipit Map 10a-c: 2004 Distribution of breeding pairs of Dipper and Grey Wagtail Map 11a-c: 2004 Distribution of breeding pairs of Wren Map 12a-c: 2004 Distribution of breeding pairs of Stonechat, Whinchat, Redstart and Wheatear Map 13a,b: 2004 Distribution of breeding pairs of Willow Warbler, Mistle Thrush and Ring Ouzel 2004 Peak District Moorland Breeding Bird Survey 3 Map 14a-c: 2004 Distribution of breeding pairs of Raven and Carrion Crow Map 15a-c: 2004 Distribution of breeding pairs of Twite, Linnet and Reed Bunting Map 16: 2004 Distribution of raptors and owls (II): Goshawk, Long-eared Owl, Little Owl, Hobby, Sparrow Hawk, Great Spotted Woodpecker Map 17a-c: 2004 Distribution of breeding pairs of water birds, game birds and near passerines: Cuckoo, Grey Heron, Grey Partridge, Little Grebe, Pheasant, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-legged Partridge, Scaup, Stock Dove, Tufted Duck Map 18a-c: 2004 Distribution of breeding pairs of larks, thrushes, warblers, tits, crows, finches, buntings: Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue tit, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Dunnock, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Grasshopper Warbler, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Jackdaw, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Redpoll, Robin, Rook, Sedge Warbler, Song Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher, Starling, Tree Pipit, Whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Yellowhammer Map 19: Distribution change 1990 – 2004 Merlin Map 20: Distribution change 1990 – 2004 Peregrine Map 21a,b: Distribution change 1990 – 2004 Red grouse Map 22: Distribution change 1990 – 2004 Golden plover Map 23: Distribution change 1990 – 2004 Dunlin Map 24: Distribution change 1990 – 2004 Curlew Map 25: Distribution change 1990 – 2004 Short-eared Owl Map 26: Distribution change 1990 – 2004 Wheatear (2nd visit only for 2004) Map 27: Distribution change 1990 – 2004 Ring Ouzel Map 28: Distribution change 1990 – 2004 Twite APPENDIX Appendix I: Information on sampling intensity and access to survey area Map App. I: Access to survey area Appendix II: Non-Moorland Species, List of species recorded during the 2004 survey not typical of moorlands Map App. III: Overlap of 1990 and 2004 survey km squares 4 2004 Peak District Moorland Breeding Bird Survey 2004 Peak District Moorland Breeding Bird Survey 5 SUMMARY The Moors for the Future bird survey 2004 is a repeat of the Brown and Shepherd breeding bird survey of the South Pennine Moors 1990. The area surveyed is defined as the unenclosed uplands between Edale and Marsden, the Staffordshire Moors and the Eastern Moors. The report describes the distribution and numbers of breeding birds found on these moors during a systematic survey conducted between 1st April and 30th June 2004. A total area of 503 km2 in 578 OS km2 squares was visited twice where there was unrestricted access. This is only the second time such a comprehensive survey of this area has been conducted, and it is therefore of great importance for the Peak District National Park and also unique in its spatial extent and resolution for UK uplands in general. Data has been gathered concerning the distribution and numbers of thirty-nine species of breeding birds. In the 1990 survey, data was presented for twenty-seven species. Within this report each species account gives a brief history of the past numbers of the species in the study area together with reports on present distribution, numbers and densities. Most importantly, the data gathered in 2004 is compared with that of 1990. Each species account is accompanied by a map that shows the distribution of species in the study area. Similar to the 1990 report, ten typical and important moorland birds have been selected to assess changes in abundance and distribution over time. Maps have been produced and included in the report that show changes in species distribution since 1990. The Peak District Moors are clearly of national significance and whilst the area is perhaps under much greater visitor pressure than other UK upland regions, the area supports the southern-most viable populations of many moorland breeding birds in the UK. Indeed, the density of Golden Plover in the study area is relatively high compared to other regions, and other species in significant numbers include Merlin, Short-eared Owl and Dunlin. Densities of Red Grouse of the race Lagopus lagopus scoticus are found nowhere in the world in such abundance as on the eastern area of the Dark Peak. Regarding distribution changes, evidence provided in this report suggests that there have been increases in the range and numbers of Peregrine, Merlin and Short-eared Owl. Furthermore, Raven has colonised the area since 1990 and Hen Harrier is perhaps attempting to colonise. Waders have also faired reasonably well whilst Dunlins are slightly down in both range and numbers resulting from loss of suitable habitat. The Golden Plover population has remained stable and Curlew, Lapwing and Snipe have all increased in numbers. There is no real evidence to suggest that the status of Ring Ouzel has changed since 1990, whilst Whinchat, Stonechat, Reed Bunting and Dipper have all increased in both range and numbers. There is little change for both Skylark and Meadow Pipit, and the Red Grouse population in 2004 is far greater than in 1990. The decline in certain species are less evident but nonetheless very significant. Most notable, Twite has suffered a catastrophic reduction in both range and numbers, and Wheatear is similarly much reduced in 2004. 6 2004 Peak District Moorland Breeding Bird Survey 1. INTRODUCTION The moors of the Peak District National Park present a diversity of breeding bird habitats of national importance. The vast blanket bogs of the plateau areas support breeding Golden Plover and Dunlin, whilst on the better-drained slopes, Curlew, Red Grouse and Short-eared Owl appear to breed. The peripheral areas of acid grassland and Juncus flushes hold good populations of Curlew, Snipe and sometimes Lapwing, and the cloughs, tors and gritstone edges with their associated rock litter and bracken are characterised by breeding Ring Ouzels, Whinchats and Stonechats. The rivers and reservoir shores hold species like Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Dipper and Grey Wagtail. The Peak District moorland has suffered significant losses and degradation of these habitats through fringe agricultural improvement, and on some sites past poor management of burning and grazing regimes and plantation afforestation. Surrounded on all sides by the heavy industry of northern England, the vegetation of the Peak District has also been severely degraded by atmospheric pollution. Furthermore, the area is within close proximity to large urban areas that leads to enormous visitor pressure. The designation as Britain’s first National Park, rights of access to large areas of wilderness through open access agreements and the increase in car ownership has resulted in high numbers of visitors engaging in an array of activities throughout the year. Nevertheless, the Peak District retains the most southerly viable populations of typical moorland breeding birds in England.